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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who does David see when he thinks of Phoebe?

2. What is David's occupation?

3. What is the weather like at the beginning of the book?

4. Where did David's parents never feel comfortable?

5. What does Paul do in school that shows his thriving status there?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Caroline's biggest dream before she met David?

2. What does David do after Norah gives birth, and why?

3. When does Caroline realize that she has to keep Phoebe?

4. What happens when David comes to visit Caroline at her apartment?

5. What can Norah hear from her front lawn after taking down the wasps nest, and what does this tell her?

6. What does Norah do to calm her nerves while Paul is in school?

7. What does Norah do while visiting her old house?

8. Why is Caroline so surprised when she sees a notice for Phoebe's memorial service?

9. What happens while Norah is driving home on the night of her anniversary?

10. What does Norah do when she goes to see Howard?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Friendship is a strong theme throughout the book. Where are some places that this theme appears, and how do the characters touched by it react? How do certain friendships change over the course of the book, and what causes these changes?

Essay Topic 2

Al is a minor character whose presence makes a big difference in the plot. How does he accomplish this? What are some ways that his presence, however brief, altered the outcome of the plot? What would have happened differently if he had not been in the book at all?

Essay Topic 3

David's past largely affected the course of David's life. What experiences from his past had this influence, and how did these influences change his relationships with others?

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This section contains 700 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample